A STUDENT at the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, 25-year-old Kevin Edson, is facing charges after police detonated two suspicious bags left near the Boston Marathon finish line.

Boston Police Superintendent Randall Halstead Edson told reporters during a press conference this afternoon that Edson would be arraigned in Boston Municipal Court tomorrow morning (Wednesday in the US) on charges of threatening battery, possession of a hoax device, threat to commit a crime, disturbing the peace, disturbing a public assembly, and disorderly conduct.

On his Facebook page Edson describes himself as a performance artist/activist using the name Kayvon Edson and posted a meme featuring one of the Boston bombers, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev just before his alleged stunt.

His timeline has since been inundated with furious comments, including several from fellow Massachusetts College of Art and Design (known locally as MassArt) students calling for his expulsion.

Police reportedly detonated the bags discovered near the Boston Marathon finish line, shouting “fire in the hole”, with two explosions heard from the scene, local media has reported.

It is presumed the bags were detonated as a precautionary measure, boston.com reported. So far, there is no evidence to indicate it contained explosives and Boston Police revealed a rice cooker was found inside.

This year, no bags or backpacks were allowed near the start or finish line and “bandits” — unregistered runners — were also banned as part of increased security measures, The Washington Post reported earlier this year.

News_Image_File: A crowd at the finish line of the Boston Marathon commemorating the one-year anniversary at the weekend. Picture: APBags and backpacks were prohibited along the course, the Boston Athletic Association announced.

The Association provided clear plastic bags in which runners could check their belongings. Runners could wear bumbags or fuel belts, but there were restrictions on costumes that some like to wear.

Faces were not allowed to be covered and no bulky clothes were permitted. Strollers were also banned from the starting or finish lines.

More than 3500 police officers were to patrol this year’s Boston Marathon, more than double the number deployed last year. Increased security measures included the presence of undercover officers.

News_Image_File: Scenes of devastation at last year’s Boston Marathon, after two backpacks blew up near the finish line. Picture: AP